Apparatus for cutting tubing



g 3 R. l. HAHN ET AL 2,648,384

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING TUBING Original Filed Aug. '7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 U JNVETVTOR.

g. 11, 1953 R. l. HAHN ET AL 2,648,384

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING TUBING Original Filed Aug. '7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /wl f9; H /85 INVENTOR.

flwmg awam/zw Who/734V w L 12.? v 9 .W-EEEI R. l. HAHN ET AL APPARATUS FOR CUTTING TUBING Aug. 11, 1953 Original Filed Aug. '7, 1948 Aug. 11, 1953 R. HAHN ET-AL 2,643,384

' APPARATUS FOR CUTTING TUBING Oiiginal Filed Aug. 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1/ m if 50 49 200 f j? 7 J2 g 46 44 g A w/ w 4V} 4 if W I v Q0 INVENTORS w @JMMEMM w may Patented Aug. 11 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.648384 APPARATUS For. c'U'rrING Tomas Rea ll. Hahn and liernard' E. Frank, Rochester,

N. Y., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 43,103, Au-

gust 7, 1948.

195%, Serial No. 144,976

operate and the lever to move to a position above the tubing whereupon a spring moves the lever laterally in a direction opposite to tubing movenient in consequence of which the cuttubing is moved under the lever by the uncut tubing until the cut tubing clears the cutter unit whereupon it gravitates from the machine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accordpanying drawings wherein a preferred-embodi merit of th present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 3 and 7 together constitute a front view of the machine;

Figs. 2, 4 and 8' taken together constitute a plan View;

Fig. 5 on the same sheet with Figs. 3 a wiring and piping diagram;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line Eit of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is a view in the direction of arrow 9 of Fig. '7 and is partly in section on line 9-9;

Fig. 10 is a view in the direction of arrow [0 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a view in the direction of arrow II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view in the direction of arrow [2 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional View on line |3-l3 of Fig. 1.

A base (Fig. 1) supports a feed unit comprising a block it attached thereto by screws 22 and dowels 23. Block 2! supports rods 24 attached thereto by screws 25. Rods guide a vertically movable block 26 having bushings 2'! which slide on the rods 2 3. Blocks 2! and 26support shafts 28 and 29 respectively which are attached to grooved rollers 30 and 3| respectively. Shaft 28 is connected in any suitable manner with a source of mechanical power, not shown. The

and 4; is

grooved rollers 30 and 3| receive tubing between them and the roller 3! is urged toward the roller 36 by springs 32 surrounding the rods 24 and confined under compression by a plate 33, also guided by the rods 24 and held down by a screw 34 threaded through a'bar 35 which screws 36 This application February 18,

attach wrote 24; 7 The tubin patsingthrough to the right from the'r'oller's 30, 3| is received by a guide tube 31 Supported b y brackt 38 an tachedby'scr'ews' 39th the base 20.

Referring also to Figs. 10' and 13; base 20 supports cutter unit comprising a guide plate Ail along with a cutter base block 4! which is adjustable' and is secured in the desired'positionof adjustment by a ciamp tz (Fig; n raste ed toa plate so by screws 43; Block 41' supports a frame comprising side members l ijantltop imambers 45; This name provides guides for horizon tally niovable'blok's 45' (Fig. 13) carrying pairs of tubingclarfipingjaws 4h The blocks 46. are urged apart by springs 48' and into engagement with cani bars 49 which crews Silatt'ach to a b1o Ck5 l A cutter blade 52 is attached by a screw 53 to a plate 54 which screws 55 1attach to' the block' :71", Block 51 has" a T-slot at farm. ceiving a- T '-head 6| to'which a screv/"stud is attached. A cou sing screw 63 is received-by a nut 64 and passes'tlir'ou'gh a plain hole in a bar 65; screw fi3cdrlriectsthe stud'62 With a rod 68 which is connected Witha piStOli in a Cylinder" 'lflwhich screws H attach to a bracket comprisirig side plates 12 and an end plate- 13. side plates 12 are welded to a platel l which ispart of' a" frame which comprises side" plates 15 connected alsoby s ine 16. Screws l1 attach'to plate 'IBa bracket 18' providing a bearing for a" shaft which carries a lever 8i having a slot 82 receiving apin 83 carried by a clevis" 84 on the lower end of a'rocl'85 which is guided by a bearing' sleeve' 86"retaine'ii'by' a bracket 37 which screws 88 attach to the plate M. The rod 7 side of the lug" 99.

is tappedto receive a screw 90 (Fig. 10) receiving nuts 89' and having a shank which passes through the plate- 65 and having a slotted head 9011' by which the'screw can be turned in order to adjust the position of; the rod 85' relative to the p1'ate"65' When thisadjustn ieiithas been mags clamping screw-c1 is: tightened. .S crew 9| asses through em 92 (Fig. 11 of the rod 85, said ears being separated bya saw cut Q3 in the roa'at; I g v, V

' Plate 65 carriesapin" 95 (Fig. 10 providing a fulcrum fOIi' a dju's'tablfii arfi plates 96' aiid 9'! each OfWlfiiCh has"lug's"98 and 99, the two lugs of a lever being vertical alignment.

plate'6 5'and eng'age'able withthe lug 99. Each screw has a collar I02: eari g against the lower Therefore the screw can Each of'the levers can be'a'djusted about its pivot by not move axially relative to the lug ;v and, when it is turned, the angular position relative to plate 65 of the cam plate associated therewith can be changed. The plate 96 has a cammlng surface I06 which during downward movement of the plate 65 will move into the position I06 thereby causing left movement of a roller I08 carried by the actuating plunger IIO of a switch H2 mounted on a plate II4 attached to the frame plate 15. Plate II4 carries also a switch H3 having an actuating plunger III which carries a roller I09 engaged as shown in Fig. 10 by the cam plate 91. When the plate 65 moves down to cause the cam surface I01 of plate 91 to move into the position I01 the switch plunger III moves to the right to allow switch H3 to close at a time after the left movement of roller I08 has caused switch II2 to close.

Shaft 80, which may be of a length somewhat longer than the longest length of the tubing to be cut by the machine, is supported at its right end (Fig. 8) by a bearing bracket I (also Fig. 9) attached by screws I2I to a plate I22 which is attached by screws I23 to a base plate I24 which supports a plate I25 of dovetail contour. Plate I25 (Fig. 6) provides a guide for a plate I26 which can be attached to the plate I25 in the desired position by screws I21 (Fig. 7). The fine adjustment of plate I26 along the bar I25 is obtained by turning a screw I28 having threaded engagement with the plate I26 and passing through a plain hole in a bracket I29 which is guided by the bar I25 and secured thereto by screws I30. To prevent endwise movement of the screw I28 relative to the bracket I29, a collar I3I is attached to the screw by a pin I32.

Plate I26 provides integral brackets I33 enclosing bearings I34 retained by plates I35 attached to the bracket. Bearings I34 support a rod or shaft I36 to which a pin I31 attaches a gear I38. Shaft I36 is urged to the left by a spring I39 confined between the gear I38 and a thrust bearing I40 thereby locating the shaft I36 so that a collar I4I attached thereto is spaced slightly to the left of the adjacent plate I35. The shaft I 36, which is axially movable, carries a screw I42 which .is fixed in the desired position of adjustment by lock nut I43. The head of the screw I42 is engageable with a plunger I44 of a switch I45 mounted on the plate I26. The shaft I36 carries a stop lever or abutment I46 which is located normally in a position to be engaged by the right end of tubing T as it moves toward the right in Fig. '7.

The gear I38 meshes with a rack I 50 which is guided by two plates I5I attached by screws I52 to the plate I26. The rack I50 has a downwardly extending portion I53 to which a pin I 54 is attached. A spring I55 connects the pin I54 with a screw I56 attached to the plate I26. This spring urges the rack I50 to the left (Fig. 6) said movement being stopped by engagement with the frame I26 by a screw I51 threaded through the part I53 and secured in adjusted position by lock nut I58. The left end of the rack I50 is bifurcated to receive a roller I pivoted on a pin I59 carried by the rack. Roller I60 is engageable with a cam I6I having a hub I62 through which the shaft 80 extends. The hub I62 is connected with shaft 80 by a key I63 received by a longitudinal groove I64 extending about the full length of the shaft 80 so that the cam I6I can be located in cooper- 4 ative relation with the roller I60 which is located in a position determined by the length of tubing to be cut off.

Referring to Fig. 5, the admission of pressure fluid to the ends of cylinder 10 is controlled by a valve I 10 connected with inlet pipe HI and connectible with outlet pipes I12 and I13. The valve I10 is controlled by solenoids I14 and I 15 which are respectively energized by the closing of switches I45 (Fig. '7) and H2 (Fig. 10). When the tubing, which is fed through the cutter by the feed wheels 30 and 3I and which is supported on the upper flange of an angle bar I which screws I8I (Figs. 1 and 3) secure to the base plate I24, engages the lever I46, the shaft I36 is moved to the right to move to the right the operating plunger I44 of switch I 45 thereby effecting the closing of the switch I45 thereby energizing solenoid I14 (Fig. 5) which so conditions the valve I10 that pressure fluid is admitted to the upper end of cylinder 10, and the piston rod 68 moves down thereby causing, through the coaction of cam plates 49 with the blocks 46, the gripping of the tubing by the pairs of jaws I41 located on opposite sides thereof and adjacent to the cutter blade 52 and thereby causing the cutter blade 52 to descend and shear away the tubing between the pairs of jaws 41, said sheared piece descending through holes in the members 4|, 40 and 20. Downward motion of the piston rod 68 also causes clockwise rotation of shaft 80 as viewed in Figs. 10 and 6 thereby causing the rack I50 to move to the right and the stop lever or abutment I46 to move counterclockwise or up in order to clear the right end of the cut tubing T (Fig. 7). As soon as levers I46 move up, the spring I39 pushes the shaft I36 toward the left so that lever I46 moves to the left and above the tubing T. Switch I45 then opens due to release of its plunger I44.

Downward movement of the piston rod 68 also causes, after the tubing is cut, the closing of switch H2 due to the coaction between surface I06 of the cam plate 96 and the roller I 08 (Fig. 10). Switch I45 having been opened when shaft I36 moves left, when switch H2 is closed the solenoid I15 is energized to so condition the valve I10 as to admit pressure fluid to the lower end of cylinder 10 whereupon the piston in cylinder 10 rises and the parts returned to normal position. As soon as the blade 52 clears the tubing, movement of the tubing by the feed rollers is resumed so that the cut tubing is pushed by the uncut tubing to the right and under the stop lever I46 which does not return immediately to downward position since it rests upon the cut tubing.

The cut tubing is automatically ejected by a mechanism which comprises a square shaft I having cylindrical journals I86 (Figs. 7 and 1) supported respectively by the plate I22 and a bracket I81 which screws I88 (Fig. 2) attach to a plate I24. Shaft I85 supports a plurality of ejector levers I90 (Fig. 9) each having a notch ISI for receiving the square shaft I85 and each clamped thereon in the desired location by a set screw I92. Each lever I90 has a notch I93 (Fig. 9) receiving the tubing T. A lever I has a notch I94 to receive the shaft I65 as shown in Fig. 9. Lever I95 is attached to the shaft I85 by a clamping plate I96 secured to the lever I95 by screws I91. Lever I95 carries a screw I98 connected by a spring I99 with a screw 200 attached to a plate 20I supported by the base I24 and the plate I22. The spring I99 urges the lever I95 counterclockwise so that the ejector levers use will be located in the proper position to receive the tubing. Motion of the lever I95 counterclockwise is limited by its engagement with a stop screw 203 (Fig. 7) supported by a bracket 262 attached by screws 2Il i-to the plates i22. Plate 2!?! provides brackets 2 135 to which clips 2535 are attached by screws 201. Clips 206 are fastened by rivets 208 to a laminated magnetizable frame 209 which supports a solenoid magnet coil 2M surrounding a central core ZII (Fig. 9) of the frame 289. Core 2II has a hole therethrough to receive a rod 2 I 2' having threaded'connection with a bent rod 2I3 pivotally connected with the lever IQ5. The rod 2 I2 supports a solenoid armature H5. The coil 2H1 isenergized by the closing of switch II 3 (Fig. 5) for the purpose of causing downward movement of arma ture 2i 5 and clockwise movement of ejector lever I90. The closing of switch II3 to energize the solenoid coil 2m occurs after the closing of switch H2. The solenoid armature 2I5 does not move instantly upon closure of switch H3 be cause the solenoid is somewhat slow in acting and the moving parts operated by the solenoid have substantial inertia. Therefore there is time for the blade 52 to clear the tubing and for the cut tubing to be moved by the uncut tubing away from the cutter unit by the time the ejector starts moving to cause movement of the cut tubing bodily to the left in Fig. 9 away from the upper flange of the angle E89 whereupon the tubing drops into a suitable receptacle and the uncut tubing can move into engagement with the lever its whereupon the cycle is repeated.

This application is a continuation of our copending application Serial No. 43,103, filed August 7, 1948.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes' a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Apparatus for cutting tubing which is moved longitudinally by a feeding device, said apparatus comprising a tubing cutter movable transversely of the tubing, a shaft located parallel to the tubing, means supporting the shaft for axial and rotary movements, an abutment member attached to the shaft and located normally in the path of movement of the tubing at a predetermined distance from the cutter, a first device actuated by movement of the shaft axially in response to movement of the abutment member by the tubing for causing advancement of the cutter to cut the tubing, means actuated in response to advancement of the cutter to effect rotation of the shaft to move the abutment member away from the tubing, a spring released for operation in response to said retraction of the abutment member to return the shaft to normal axial position and consequently the abutment member back to a position along side the cut tubing, said movement of the shaft releasing said first device, a second device actuated during advancement of the cutter for causing retraction of the cutter and release of said second device in consequence of which the cut tubing is moved by the uncut tubing away from the cutter, a second spring released upon retraction of the cutter for return of the member toward normal position, means for ejecting the cut tubing and a third device actuated by movement of the 6 cutter for effecting operation of the ejecting means.

2. Apparatus for cutting tubing-which is moved longitudinally by a feeding device, said apparatus comprising a servomotor having a movable member, atubing cutter operated by the member, a first and second servomotor controlling devices respectively for efiecting movement of the cutter toward and away from the tubing, a shaft located parallel to the tubing, means supporting the shaft for axial and rotary movements, an abutment member attached to'the shaft and located normally in the path of movement of the tubing at a predetermined distance from the cutter, the first control device having an actuator located in the path of axial movement of the shaft which is moved in response to movement of the abutment member by the tubing whereby the first control device is rendered operative by movement of the shaft to cause the servomotor member to move in the direction to cause the cutter to sever the tubing, means actuated by the servomotor member while moving in said direction for effecting rotation of the shaft to move the abutment member away from the tubing, a spring released for operation in response to said retraction of the abutment member to return the shaft to normal axial position and consequentlythe abutment member back to a position alongside the cut tubing, said movement of the shaft releasing the actuator of the first control device, means operated by said servomotor member during the latter portion of its movement in said direction for causingthe second control device to be rendered effective to cause the servomotor member to move in the opposite direction to retract the cutter and to release the actuator of the second control device in consequence of which the cut tubing i moved by the uncut tubing away from the cutter, a second spring released upon retraction of the cutter for return of the member toward normal position, means for ejecting the cut tubing, 2. third control device for causing operation of the ejecting means and means operated by the servoinoto'r'member after operation of the second control devic for effecting operation of the third control device.

3. Apparatus for cutting tubing which is moved longitudinally by a feeding device said apparatus comprising a servomotor having a movable member, a tubing cutter operated by the member, a first and second servomotor controlling devices respectively for effecting movement of the cutter toward and away from the tubing, a rod located parallel to the tubing, means supporting the rod for axial and rotary movements, an abutment member attached to the rod and located normally in the path of movement of the tubing at a predetermined distance from the cutter, the first control device having an actuator located in the path of axial movement of the rod and moved in response to movement of the abutment member by the tubing whereby the first control device is rendered operative by movement of the rod to cause the servomotor member to move in the direction to cause the cutter to sever the tubing, means actuated by the servomotor member while moving in said direction for eifecting rotation of the rod to move the abutment member away from the tubing, a spring released for operation in response to said retraction of the abutment member to return the rod to normal axial position and consequently the abutment member back to its normal position and alongside the tubing, said movement of the rod releasing the actuator of the first control device, means operated by said servomotor member during the latter portion of its movement in said direction for causing the second control device to be rendered effective to cause the servomotor member to move in the opposite direction to retract the cutter and to release the actuator of the second control device in consequence of which the cut tubing is moved by the uncut tubing away from the cutter so that the cut tubing can be ejected from the path of movement of the uncut tubing, a spring for rotating the rod back to its normal position thereby moving the abutment member into the path of movement of the uncut tubing, means for supporting the tubing between the cutter and the abutment member, means for ejecting the cut tubing laterally from the support, an ejector control device and means operated by the servomotor member for rendering the ejector control device effective to cause operation of the ejector.

4. Apparatus for cutting tubing which is moved longitudinally by a feeding device said apparatus comprising a servomotor having a movable mem- L bcr, a tubing cutter operated by the member, a first and second servomotor controlling devices respectively for effecting movement of the cutter toward and away from the tubing, a fixed base.

a guide mounted on the base and extending parallel to the path of movement of the tubing, a plate supported by the guide for adjustment therealong, means for fixing the location of the plate along the guide, a rod supported by the plate for axial movement parallel to the tubing and for rotary movement, an abutment member provided by the rod and located normally in the path of movement of the tubing at a predetermined distance from the cutter as determined by the location of the plate along the guide, the first control device having an actuator located in the path of axial movement of the rod and moved in response to movement of the abutment member by the tubing whereby the first control device is rendered operative by movement of the rod to cause the servomotor member to move in the direction to cause the cutter to sever the tubing, means actuated by the servomotor member while moving in said direction for effecting rotation of the rod to move the abutment member away from the tubing, said means comprising a gear connected with the rod, a rack meshing with the gear and supported by the plate, a cam follower carried by the rack, a shaft parallel with the rod and rotated by the servomotor member, and a cam for engaging the follower and mounted on the shaft and connected therewith by a key received by a longitudinal groove of the shaft whereby the cam can be shifted along the shaft to make contact with the follower, a spring released for operation in response to said retraction of the abutment member to return the rod to normal axial position and consequently the abutment memher back to its normal position and alongside the tubing, said movement of the rod releasing the actuator of the first control device, means operated by said servomotor member during the latter portion of its movement in said direction for causing the second control device to be rendered effective to cause the servomotor member to move in the opposite direction to retract the cutter and to release the actuator of the second control device in consequence of which the cut tubing is moved by the uncut tubing away from the cutter so that the cut tubing can be ejected from the path of movement of the uncut tubing, a spring which urges the follower toward the cam and the rod rotatively back to its normal position thereby moving the abutment member into the path of movement of the uncut tubing, and means for ejecting the cut tubing.

REA I. HAHN. BERNARD E. FRANK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,626,878 Seymour May 3, 1927 2,205,389 Borzym June 25, 1940 

